Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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18. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department has analysed the impact homelessness has on school attendance, the education of pupils and the life of schools; his plans to address these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36427/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has a general function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The statutory Educational Welfare Service of Tusla has a key role to respond to instances where children are not attending school regularly or where there is a concern about a child's educational welfare.

Children whose families are homeless or who are living in temporary accommodation which is a distance from their school are a concern because they may encounter attendance difficulties which can impact on their participation in education and school life.

Tusla is working closely with the homeless agencies to ensure that services working with homeless families know how to access educational support where difficulties arise with a child's participation in school. New information material on the supports available and how to access them is being developed for distribution to the services. Tusla has been in contact with schools that operate the school completion programme to emphasise the importance of identifying and supporting children whose families are homeless. Parents are being encouraged to share with schools their family circumstances in order that support may be provided to them. Schools have been asked to provide details of their inputs in situations where children need additional support with attendance matters and engagement in the life of the school. Tusla will then conduct an analysis of information provided by the schools with a view to working closely with them on a coordinated approach to respond to children's needs.

Tusla has assigned an additional Educational Welfare Officer to assist schools where a number of homeless children are presenting in the Dublin region. Tusla's aim is to provide an integrated response to support children and their families, to prevent attendance difficulties arising, ensure that children continue to participate in education and that they continue to be involved with their school community.